Park Cheol-Ho, one of the Association's S-rank players, was called the Iron Wall for two reasons. First, his main ability, Reinforcent, transford either a part or his entire body into a substance that was at least as hard as iron. The second was his cold and indifferent personality, as he scarcely showed more emotion than a piece of tal.
Therefore, he could objectively watch the eighth duel of the combat exam between Choi Yu-Seong and Lee Jin-Wooka fight that was highly anticipated by everyone in the arena. Although both of them had displayed quite outstanding results in their asurent exam, that didnt an those results factored in the combat exam. After all, Cheol-Ho was an instructor who judged unbiasedly based on a persons performance.
There were geniuses in every profession of the world, and it was no different for players. One didn't need to admire or be jealous of those genius players; after all, this world was unfair. In the sa way, just because they had genius-level talent did not an that those players had to be given special treatnt.
In the end, the important thing was how effectively they used their talent. Quite frequently, there were cases where those geniuses failed because they didnt know what their talent was and didnt use it to their full potential.
However, beneath his sunglasses, Cheol-Ho's usually indifferent eyes widened soon after the duel started.
'Choi Yu-Seong. 0.8 physical type asurent score.'
A player could achieve a maximum score of 1 on the punching machine for the hunter exam. And among All-Rounder type players, it was extrely rare for one to score over 0.7, maybe about one in a thousand players?
However, Yu-Seong had even scored 0.8 on the psychic type asurent exam as well. Obviously, it was extrely rare for an All-Rounder player to score this high for both types of asurent exams. As a matter of fact, it had happened only three tis globally and was the first ti for Korea.
That result was so shocking that even soone like Cheol-Ho, who was used to encountering talented players, couldnt help but be surprised. In the end, he ca to the conclusion that although Yu-Seong was an All-Rounder who specialized in psychic abilities, he had probably honed his physical abilities on his own. Of course, that didnt change the fact that his score was astonishing.
But as Cheol-Ho watched the duel, he realized that Yu-Seong hadnt simply 'trained' his physical abilities.
'He learned martial arts.'
Yu-Seong's posture when holding the spear, the look in his eyes as he stared at his opponent, and his calculated and elegant movents easily surpassed that of an ordinary person. His skills were particularly noticeable in comparison to Jin-Wook, who was haphazardly swinging his sword.
'Hes had at least three years of training, maybe even five years. And all this ti, I thought Choi Yu-Seong was just a fool that acted recklessly'
Since Yu-Seong was on the news once or twice a month for causing trouble, or sotis getting terribly drunk and causing trouble, Cheol-Ho considered him to be a fool that lived a sheltered life. However, with this fight, his perception of Yu-Seong completely changed.
By Cheol-Hos standards, Yu-Seong was definitely a genius, but he wasnt simply a genius.
Hes not a natural-born genius, but one born from hard work. Hes like a dragon whos hiding underwater[1], honing his skills while waiting for the right mont to strike.
Why wouldn't Yu-Seong display his skills even as he trained in martial arts? Although the Cot Groups children seed to live happily without any worries on the outside, great danger actually lood over all of them. Since he could be stabbed in the back at any ti, Yu-Seong had kept his potential a secret until the very mont he had beco capable of protecting himself: the mont of his Awakening.
'He's extraordinarily calm and rational for his young age.'
The Iron Wall Park Cheol-Ho was considered to be the most objective and detached evaluator; however, even he couldnt help but be astonished by Yu-Seong. He was so impressed that if he found out that Yu-Seong hadn't actually trained for years but only a month, he would be filled with embarrassnt. After all, Yu-Seong was not only hard working, but also extrely talented at martial arts. But since Cheol-Ho didn't know that, he could only judge based on what was happening in front of him.
'Physical combat would only lead Lee Jin-Wook to his death.'
From what Cheol-Ho observed until now, Jin-Wook's performance was a disgrace to his title of Irregular. Not recognizing his inferiority in close combat against his opponent, Jin-Wook attacked Yu-Seong foolishly and failed to take advantage of the full potential of a psychic-type player. Jin-Wook's various wind skills were certainly effective in close combat, but he had unfortunately t an opponent that outperford him.
'If he fails to recognize that, he's just a strong idiot.' Cheol-Ho thought as he looked at Jin-Wook.
Even if he gave him a license, Jin-Wook would die in vain in a dungeon. In the end, Cheol-Ho sighed inwardly as he watched Jin-Wook being stabbed by the spear and electrified by the Spark. It was exactly as he expected.
Nevertheless, Cheol-Ho didn't stop the duel nor did he feel the need to declare that Jin-Wook lost.
'Lee Jin-Wook. A wind-type psychic player who scored a perfect score on the psychic type asurent exam.'
In so ways, scoring one point in the asurent exam was more difficult than getting a perfect score in the written exam. In other words, scoring a 1 was a totally different level compared to a 0.8 as if there was an insuperable barrier between them.
As if proving this, Jin-Wook gritted his teeth through the pain as he activated his Wind Pressure ability with all his might and shoved Yu-Seong's spear away. Naturally, Yu-Seong couldn't withstand so much force and spun several tis in the air.
"Choi Yuuu-Seoooong-!"
Although Jin-Wooks anger was clear in his raised voice, he didn't imdiately pursue Yu-Seong right away. Instead, he started forming his most powerful weapon, the Wind Blade, around him.
'It's going to beco tougher.'
Cheol-Ho thought to himself as he unfolded his arms to prepare for any outco. His eyes were sparkling beneath his sunglasses.
* * *
Even Yu-Seong couldnt help but be shocked the mont Jin-Wooks Wind Pressure tossed him up into the air.
'Why is it so powerful?'
He had thought that it was only fast, but it was also strong. The winds pressure was so powerful that it seed like a massive giant had suddenly shot up from a crouched position.
'Did he hold back before?'
Yu-Seong thought that maybe Jin-Wook had looked down on him and hadnt used his full powers. However, only one of those assumptions was correct.
I was going to pretend to do my best while waiting for a chance to cut off his head but'
Originally, Jin-Wook had planned on lowering Yu-Seong's guard by holding back and then striking a critical blow at once. However, he had been shocked by Yu-Seong's skills and had lost the initiative, leading him to almost lose the fight
'Let's give up on close combat. Although Choi Yu-Seong is an all-rounder, he's clearly closer to a physical type player.'
Unaware that both of Yu-Seong's asurent scores were 0.8, Jin-Wook made his decision to open up distance and started to form his wind blade. Sensing this while still spinning in midair, Yu-Seong tried to brace himself as fast as he could. The most fearful aspect of the wind blade was that it was hard to recognize its shape.
'A green light flashes shortly, but it's hard to see unless I concentrate.'
There was a reason why Jin-Wook beca such a powerful villain in the original novel that the head of the Special Police Force had to personally arrest him.
The wind blade flew through the air quicker than Yu-Seong thought it would. Sensing the incoming air blade, he activated his mana while still in the air.
'It's a sha to use this right now, but...'
It was better than losing a part of his body or getting his head cut off.
'Skill, Stepping Wind.'
The mont he activated this skill, Yu-Seong sensed sothing hard but also sowhat soft that condensed beneath his feet as he spun in midair. Using that as his foothold, he instantly jumped to the side. Passing narrowly beneath Yu-Seongs feet, the wind blade flew through the air and made a huge noise as it crashed into the Colosseum walls.
"Did you just use Stepping Wind?! How?!" Jin-Wook scread.
"What? Have you never seen soone who has the sa skill as you?"
Yu-Seong smiled as he braced himself. He had avoided the attack by using the skill he had copied when Jin-Wook had first approached him.
"Seeing how you've got a bunch of random skills, guess you really are an All-Rou
Before Jin-Wook could finish his sentence, Yu-Seong abruptly reared back and threw his spear.
'The Javelin Throw skill?!'
Surprised by a totally unexpected skill, Jin-Wook dodged using his own Stepping Wind. Yu-Seong instantly closed the distance, retrieved his spear, and pursued Jin-Wook. Sa as Jin-Wook, he used Stepping Wind. It was an astonishingly elaborate plan.
'He's nothing like what my king told ! I only heard that he was a stupid and cowardly idiot!'
However, contrary to his expectations, Yu-Seong was using his cunning mind to its fullest potential. With his arms wide open, Jin-Wook brought both his hands forwards and launched Wind Pressure once more.
Although the wind blade fit Jin-Wook's needs for striking lethal blows, it required ti for preparation. On the other hand, he could change the ti needed for Wind Pressure by altering its power.
Boom-!
Yu-Seong felt his heart racing as he spun his spear and channeled his mana to stop the Wind Pressure. Despite the long duel, he didnt feel tired. Instead, he felt his movents becoming lighter and his head becoming clearer.
He realized that a portion of his mana was being consud and another skill was being activated.
'It's Stylish!'
The last of his four initial skills he earned after the Awakening.
General Skill, Stylish F
Cannot be used with Fusion.
Additional effects are applied once the user demonstrates acrobatic and cool actions.
Similar to Star-Factor, this skill was quite fitting for the original Yu-Seong, who was an attention seeker. That was why Yu-Seong had picked the spear from the variety of weapons. Since the spear had a long reach and made big, sweeping movents, it seed stylish from the perspective of the audience. Compared to other weapons, it made it easier to activate Stylish just by prolonging the fight.
He had felt the sa thing several tis when he sparred with Jin Do-Yoon using a staff. Once Stylish was activated, his in-battle concentration would increase and his body would beco light and agile as if it was relieved from all of its fatigue. Also, certain random effects were activated sotis.
As his movents beca lighter, pursuing Jin-Wook beca much easier. His mana consumption did increase a lot with Stylish also being activated, but he didn't worry too much about it.
This is why Ive been flexing all that money for.
While Yu-Seong had ordered Chae Ye-Ryeong to drink the ten-million-won gray color mana stone extract every day, he also hadnt just stood around doing nothing.
Instead, he had drunk a thicker, dark gray extract that was worth thirty million, and he drank it every day. He literally spent money as if it grew on trees. As a result, he had earned an extraordinary score in the second section of the psychic type asurent exammana capacity.
'Imasurable within this rank.'
It ant that he had to use a more sophisticated instrunt that could asure at least E-rank players to get a specific score. In fact, the mana potion inside the bowl had overflowed because of him. Although his other scores would've been surprising on their own, it was his mana capacity that shocked the association staff and prompted her to ask him to re-do the exam. He had realized again just how useful money was.
This was how Yu-Seong was able to pursue Jin-Wook without draining his mana even after activating Stylish and using a variety of skills. However, the problem was that Jin-Wook wasnt an easy opponent to hit as he nimbly dodged all of his attacks. He even counterattacked with another Wind Blade during their battle.
At this rate, the usage count for Stepping Winds going to run out.
Yu-Seong realized that he had to end this soon. He had been playing cautious because he didnt know what other sches Jin-Wook and Min-Seok prepared for him, but he realized that he could just overpower Jin-Wook before the guy played a dirty trick on him.
At that mont, Jin-Wook was thinking sothing similar to Yu-Seong.
At this rate, Im going to lose because my mana is going to run out. I have to make my move.
As if reaching his limit, Jin-Wooks forehead dripped cold sweat as he consud his mana to avoid Yu-Seongs onslaught. Since he didnt know Yu-Seong had a limit to using Stepping Wind, he beca impatient. In the end, Jin-Wook imagined the worst scenario for him.
If I dont succeed
It was obvious how furious Choi Min-Seok would be if he failed. Jin-Wook was terrified. Recalling the abuse and ntal torture that Min-Seoks purple eyes had done to him, he felt a chill running down his back.
As a result, Jin-Wook fished out the object in his pocket that he had received from Min-Seok. At the sa ti, he saw that Yu-Seong had taken advantage of the slight hesitation he showed while thinking and was quickly closing the distance between them with the spear aid straight at his chest.
This is my last chance.
Jin-Wooks eyes were full of venomous determination.
1. Asian dragons arent like European dragons living in caves and breathing fire. They are usually associated with water and air, therefore said to reside at the bottom of lakes or oceans or high up in the sky
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